VA wait times investigated in Texas

May. 9, 2014 - 09:37AM
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AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched an investigation of scheduling practices at its hospitals in Texas.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that a whistleblower at San Antonio’s North Central Federal Clinic says he and other clerks were instructed to manipulate scheduling data so it appeared there were no wait times. The clerk, Brian Turner, said he had received whistleblower protection from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.

Catherine Gromek, a spokeswoman for the VA’s Office of the Inspector General, said it is initially focusing on San Antonio where they’ve received allegations from a lot of different sources. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced Thursday a “face-to-face audit” of every clinic and hospital in the nation.

VA officials in San Antonio said in a statement Thursday that Turner’s claims were not substantiated.